Method of building a structure in the presence of water

Abstract

A method of building a structure in the presence of water includes providing two or more three-sided elongated triangular bodies that has a first end, a second end, and an internal flow passage that extends between the first end and the second end. Each of the triangular bodies has an apex with a base opposed to the apex. Each of the triangular bodies is positioned in side by side relation, with the flow passage of one or more of the triangular bodies serving as a flow path for water. A road, a bridge or a dock is positioned transversely across the triangular bodies.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method of building a structure in the presence of water, the method comprising the steps of:
 providing two or more three-sided elongated triangular bodies having a first end, a second end, and an internal flow passage that extends between the first end and the second end, each of the triangular bodies having an apex with a base located opposed to the apex, 
 positioning each of the triangular bodies in side by side relation on a body of water in alternating orientations such that at least one triangular body is inverted and such that the at least one inverted triangular body is supported by an adjacent triangular body, the apex and the base of side by side triangular bodies are located adjacent one another, with the flow passage of one or more of the triangular bodies serving as a flow path for water; 
 positioning one of a floating bridge or a dock transversely across the base of the at least one inverted triangular body such that the floating bridge or dock is supported on the base and supported above the body of water at least partially by the triangular bodes such that the triangular bodies are at least partially submerged and the water is permitted to traverse the floating bridge or dock through the triangular bodies. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , wherein two or more of the triangular bodies are upright such that the upright triangular bodies rest on the base with the apex of each of the triangular bodies extending upwardly and one or more triangular bodies are inverted and positioned between pairs of upright triangular bodies such that the base extends upwardly. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 1 , wherein each of the triangular bodies has a longitudinal axis and the positioning of the triangular bodies is closely spaced with the longitudinal axis of each of the triangular bodies in parallel spaced relation. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 1 , wherein each of the triangular bodies are comprised of three discrete slabs having side edges with interlocking profiles and a step is taken of interlocking the interlocking profiles of the side edges to form the triangular bodies. 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 4 , wherein each of the interlocking profiles is a dog-clutch engagement having teeth which engage slots. 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 5 , wherein a step is taken of extending fasteners transversely through the teeth of one slab and into a bottom of a slot of another slab to maintain the teeth engaged with the slots. 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 4 , wherein each of the slabs is comprised of more than one slab segment and a step is taken of positioning the slab segments in end to end relation. 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 7 , wherein a joint is created whenever one slab segment abuts another slab segment in end to end relation, and a step is taken of offsetting the joints connecting the slab segments of one of the three discrete slabs relative to the joints connecting the slab segments on other of the three discrete slabs. 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the road, bridge or dock traverses the triangular bodies at an angle of less than 90 degrees or more than 90 degrees in relation to the triangular bodies. 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the triangular bodies positioned in side by side relation are oriented in two or more vertical layers.